A note for the ages: Census ‘time capsule’

In a world first, Ireland’s census allows residents to record a message for future generations. Craig Hoyle reports NZ could follow suit – but not for Census 2023.

Stats NZ says while next year’s Census won’t include a ‘time capsule’ option, it’s not out of the question for future Censuses.

It follows the popularity of the concept overseas; Ireland is conducting its 2022 Census today, and for the first time has included a blank space for people to leave messages for future generations.

It is, according to Ireland’s Central Statistics Office, a world first.

The section is voluntary, and Census records won’t be unsealed for 100 years, but many Irish residents have shared their time capsule messages on social media.

It’s a diverse mix. Some people have gone for humour, recording information like how much a beer costs at the moment. One person drew a sketch of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at this year’s Oscars ceremony.

Another had a cheeky request: ‘‘Can you check if my Lotto numbers ever came in!!!’’

Others were more heartfelt, describing much-loved pets or the deaths of family members.

‘‘Tonight, as we count those in our house and our family, we are thinking so much of our beloved little girl,’’ wrote one person in a time capsule message that was shared on Twitter.

‘‘She was tragically taken from us 5 years ago, just before her 4th birthday in a car crash … She was never counted in a census, and so we are so relieved to be able to mention her here.’’

Chris Szekely, chief librarian at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, said it was an interesting twist on how people recorded their lives for posterity.

‘‘The time capsule concept back in the day was school soccer boots and teddy bears, whatever was of interest to the community, buried under a statue that might be dug up in 100 years,’’ he said. ‘‘This concept is new to me, and does put quite a different slant on it.’’

Szekely said that while there had been a steep rise in people recording their lives, they often weren’t doing so with future generations in mind.

‘‘When as individuals we’re asked to provide a memorial or record of how we saw things at a moment of time, and we reflect on it, that’s very deliberate, and quite different to social media, which is typically an endeavour of the moment.’’

Census communications manager Tracy Dillimore said Stats NZ was aware of the addition to the Irish Census, but it was too late to implement something similar for New Zealand’s next census.

‘‘The content for the next census was finalised last year, after consultation with a range of stakeholders,’’ Dillimore said.

‘‘The lead time required to enable testing and preparation of any changes means we will not be able to accommodate a similar initiative for the 2023 Census.’’

Dillimore said Kiwi censustakers were ‘‘closely joined up’’ with their counterparts in other jurisdictions, and would learn from overseas ‘‘to inform future Censuses in Aotearoa New Zealand’’.

‘‘Any decisions about content changes for future censuses would be consulted on with the public, Ma¯ ori, and government agencies.’’

While social media has driven an increase in record-keeping, the

concept of describing our daily lives is not new, and the Turnbull Library holds a substantial collection of personal diaries dating back to the 1800s.

‘‘They’re often focused on dayto-day lives, family connections, networks, those sorts of things,’’ Szekely said. ‘‘We have a lot of them at the Turnbull Library, and

they’re well-used.’’

Private records were often the most revealing, he added.

‘‘Some of the richest research material of today comes from per

So, assuming you and your recent ancestors managed to save the human race, here are a few questions for you. I’ll be taking notes.

Is the noun ‘‘kindness’’ still part of the vernacular in 2122? Important concept, that – but it’s looking a bit threadbare in Aotearoa right now. The pandemic, which is dragging on, has sapped all the kindness out of us. We’re like a dam in a drought, with the cracked, sun-baked mud floor of our basest selves on display.

Everyone is grumpy. People can’t even get the groceries without finding themselves on the end of some other citizen’s irrational anger. All of this was somewhat foreseeable, given the disaster-piled-upon-disaster of the past few years – that’s why the whole concept of ‘‘be kind’’ became a mantra in the first place.

You shouldn’t have to remind people to be kind, I hear you say. Well, my dear descendant, you were not alive in the weirdo wackiness that is 2022. Living through this Covid pandemic has visited various states of depression and fear upon most of us. Some among us have turned their backs on science and fact altogether. The rest of us don’t know how to deal with them. It’s an unholy mess.

I hope, in the intervening 100 years, the concept of kindness has trickled back into fashion.

I wonder which Kiwi names from our time will be remembered by you? Perhaps the artists that lifted us? Sam Neill has a new movie

sonal accounts that people didn’t create for public consumption.’’

Szekely said it was too soon to comment on the potential research value of census time capsules, but coming out this year; he’d be on the list, as would Jane Campion, who just became only the second woman ever to win an Oscar for best director. I know, what?

I hope time hasn’t forgotten those whose kaupapa made a real difference. A name I’m sure you will know from your history books is Moana Jackson (Nga¯ ti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine, Nga¯ ti Porou).

Jackson, who died last week, did many things – authored a groundbreaking report that exposed our racist justice system, worked to get the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples across the line, and championed wa¯ hine and LGBTQI rights.

I interviewed Jackson a couple of times, and those conversations were some of the great honours of my career – and I’ve interviewed Oprah in person! If you’re looking for 21st century leaders who did not muck it up, Jackson ought to be right near the top of your list.

I’m presuming you sorted out the pay gap issue long ago. Also racism, ableism and discrimination against gender diverse people. I imagine you’re scratching your heads as to how these discriminations ever happened, and who could blame you.

There’s so much more I could tell you – all of it confusing, uplifting and terrifying – but others will be writing their truths down too, so enjoy this peek into the best and worst of times.

(PS: Will Smith’s outburst did not go down well.)

it was worth seizing as an opportunity if available. ‘‘It would be very interesting to see what New Zealanders would record and say about themselves.’’